Courtesy of Rotary Club o f Los ALtos Rotary Club of Los Altos President Kendra Gjerseth and club member Allart Ligtenberg flank educator and Dickens scholar Tim Farrell.

Local educator Tim Farrell characterized Charles Dickens at the apex of his career in 1857 as a “combination of Father Christmas, Prince Albert and God – a veritable Victorian rock star” in a presentation on the literary great at the Rotary Club of Los Altos Jan. 29.

Farrell, a Los Altos resident, taught for 48 years, sharing his love of the English classics with students at Mountain View and Gunn High schools.

Author Tiffany Papageorge is scheduled to sign copies of new her book 11 a.m. Dec. 6 at Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos.

Papageorge’s “My Yellow Balloon” (Minoan Moon, 2014) is a Mom’s Choice “Gold” winner. In the book, the Los Gatos author helps children when it’s time to let go, giving them the courage to experience loss – from a move to divorce or death – and a language for understanding change.